“It does not quite pull it off, and humans stay stubbornly central.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.

The Animal’s Guide to Britain, BBC2

“Some of the through-the-animals’-eyes stuff – what matters to them in Britain – is pretty obvious really. What matters to them is that they have a place that has all the right things for them to breed – plenty to eat (and served up to them on a plate, in the ospreys’ case), and not too many nasty foreign beasties eating them. What’s nice, though, are the little animated pieces about how these creatures fit in with our history and culture.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

 “Aside from a brief reconstruction of a vole being chased around his burrow by assorted predators, there was little in the way of in-their-(metaphorical)-shoes insights. This is not, necessarily, a bad thing, because what we did get – a look at five freshwater creatures on their way back from extinction – was rather lovely.”
Alice-Azania Jarvis, The Independent

“Unfortunately, as the title suggests, it comes with all sorts of guff about showing us our country from the animals’ ‘point of view’ and ‘getting into the head of’ various creatures from ospreys to sea trout.”
Matt Baylis, The Express

“It does not quite pull it off, and humans stay stubbornly central. Partly this is because animal stories are largely told through human records. Partly it is down to the decision to place front of camera the lisping naturalist Chris Packham.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

Misbehaving Mums to Be, BBC3

“The facts presented really were alarming… [and] there’s something terribly uncomfortable about poking one’s nose into someone else’s pregnancy. And then judging them on it. Still, it was riveting.”
Alice-Azania Jarvis, The Independent

“I spent half the programme rebelling silently at the authoritarian midwife who told a 35-year-old bar owner that she was not even allowed a single glass of red in her first trimester.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

The Kennedys, History

 “In spite of all the flaws, I’ve found myself returning. I’ve now watched the whole second episode – plus several more – on DVD, and I’ve every intention of continuing. Somehow, I’ve been sucked in.”
Alice-Azania Jarvis, The Independent

Three In A Bed, Channel 4

“It’s not yet obtained the reputation or notoriety of Come Dine With Me but for my money it’s a far more addictive show.”
Matt Baylis, The Express

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